A number of CYPs take part in cholesterol biosynthesis and elimination, thus playing an important role in maintaining cholesterol homeostasis. Under normal physiological conditions, cholesterol intake (diet or synthesized de novo from acetyl CoA) equals cholesterol elimination (degraded to bile salts, secreted in bile and used in steroid hormone synthesis). These processes are under tight regulatory control and any disruption leads to increased cholesterol levels resulting in cardiovacular disease. The CYPs involved in cholesterol homeostasis could serve as potential targets for cholesterol-lowering drugs (Lewis 2004, Guengerich 2006, Pikuleva 2006).
Lewis, DF
Guengerich, FP
Pikuleva, IA
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